It's A Game: Chapter 4
THREE WEEKS LATER
Zoey wasn't handling Erik's death well, as was to be expected but everyone believed that she let herself sink too low. She hadn't left Aphrodite's side since she found Erik dead on the rooftop of the Depot. She just could not shake herself and Aphrodite was the only one who understood why. Still, there was so much that Aphrodite hadn't told her about Erik and she thought that maybe if Zoey knew it she wouldn't be so hurt. "Z, sweetie, come here. Let me hold you for a while." Zoey crawled over to Aphrodite like she still had a toddler's mentality. When she reached Aphrodite Zoey laid herself on dAphrodite's thighs and put her thumb in her mouth, she looked up as if to say, "yes?" Aphrodite stroked Zoey's head to try and make her stay in this calm state. This was the first day in the two weeks since Erik died that she had no burst into tears when she woke up in the morning.
"Z, did you really love Erik this much?" Aphrodite asked, trying her hardest not to let her voice shake. Zoey still hadn't found the courage to speak so she just nodded her head. "Well, baby, there's some stuff that he never told you. I thought maybe if you knew that maybe it would help."
Zoey took her thumb out of her mouth, "What do you mean? Erik told me everything."
"No, baby, he didn't" Aphrodite could only shake her head. "And I'm… I'm part of the reason."
"Aphrodite, please don't make this into a confession hour. I won't be able to handle it."
"Z, please. You need to hear this."
"Not if it's going to upset even more than I already am."
For that moment, Aphrodite abided by Zoey's wishes. She would save that discussion for a later time, but the discussion would be had. Aphrodite let herself drift back to sleep with Zoey in her arms. When Aphrodite woke up again, Zoey wasn't in the bed. Aphrodite checked the bathroom and Zoey wasn't in there either. "Where could she have gone?" Aphrodite walked over to the table where Zoey's labtop was. There was a sticky note on the keyboard, "Baby, going to see Stevie Rae, Damien and the Twins. I need some nerd herd love. Feel free to join us. Love you, Z." Aphrodite let out a big sigh, at least she knew that Zoey was safe. Aphrodite decided on a shower then going to find Zoey and the others. Who knew what they were doing right about now? Probably watching over rated chick flicks in Damien's room.
Aphrodite went back into the bathroom and turned on the water for her shower. Slowly, she started undressing in front of the mirror to look her body. "I seriously need some sunlight" She might be with vamps but that didn't means that she had to look like them. After giving her body a very slow once over to make sure that she didn't miss anything while making her self assessment of body issues she got into the shower.
After her shower, Aphrodite went to go find Zoey and her friends. When she finally did find them, they were all in the kitchen coddling a crying Zoey who was using Lucky Charms as a comfort food. "I knew I should have been with her when she got up." Aphrodite went over to Zoey, who wiped her tears as soon as she noticed Aphrodite walking over to her. "What happened, baby?" Aphrodite rubbed Zoey's head to try and make her feel better.
"I just saw Erik's old room. Memories came flooding back like a hurricane and the next thing I know I was crying again." Zoey said, still sniffling.
"She must have been having a nasty snot cry." "Do you think maybe you want to go back to our room and lay down for a little bit?" the last thing she needs is to look weak in front of the people who need her to stay strong in this. Zoey nodded. Aphrodite grabbed her by the hand and took them back to the room that they now shared.
Once back inside the room, Aphrodite lead Zoey to the bathroom, and ran her bath water to try and help her relax. Zoey sat on the toilet and watched the water fill the tub. "Zoey, baby, we got to get you undressed before we can put you in the tub." Aphrodite once again felt the need to grab Zoey by the hand. Zoey stood up and let Aphrodite undress her starting with her shirt and bra and work her way until she got Zoey to step out of her underwear. "Z, do you need me to sit in here with you?" Aphrodite asked as she helped Zoey into the bathtub. Zoey shook her head, "no, I'm okay. I'll be out soon."
"Okay."
"Aphrodite, will you hold me when I get out?"
"Of course I will." Aphrodite said that then walked out of the bathroom, leaving her to her thoughts. Aphrodite laid down on their bed, but not for long. It seemed like as soon as she closed her eyes there was a ruckus right outside their bedroom door.
"No! I have to see her! Stevie Rae, don't try to fight me on this!" a male voice that was all too familiar, but it couldn't be him. He died. There was a pound on the door. Aphrodite got up to check on Zoey to make sure that she was still okay before attending to the noise outside. When Aphrodite opened the door, there stood Stevie Rae and Erik, a new red Vampyre. "Full grown red vamp suits him well. Ew. Can't believe I just thought that." It seemed to Aphrodite that unlike all the other red vamps Erik had kept his sanity during his change.
"Erik, what the hell? You came back? We thought you died." Aphrodite said, trying to stay quiet so that she didn't disturb Zoey who was still relaxing in the bathtub.
"And I bet you were glad about that." He was still a smart ass.
"Actually, it's been rough on everyone. Me included. I've had to deal with Zoey because no one else could handle her. And I hate seeing her all depressed. " Aphrodite felt no need to lie.
"Where is she?"
"In the bath. She's trying to relax. Boy, won't this put her mind at ease?"
Aphrodite and Erik walked over to the bathroom and Aphrodite opened the door to see Zoey toweling herself dry and just about to put on her pajamas. Zoey turned her head to see Erik standing behind Aphrodite with a blood red but curiously bright red crescent moon blazoned across his forehead. A barely audible whisper came from Zoey, "Erik?" Erik stepped forward, and put his hand on Zoey's arm. "Yeah, Z. It's me."
"You came back? How?"
"I wanted to be with you in death, but then I saw that you are still with Aphrodite…"
"And it will stay that way. Things like this don't just change over night. Do you remember how long it took me to get over you when we broke up the first time?"
"Yeah…."
"It's like that. I saw you die Erik. What did you think was gonna happen? That I was going to blame Aphrodite?"
"Well, I was kinda hoping….."
"What the hell is wrong with you?! Why would you want that?!"
"Because I want you! Jeez, don't you get that?!" Erik stormed out of the room, angrier than he had been before he died.